There are certain bands, whose new releases, I deem a disappointment if they finish the year as anything short of my “CD of the Year”. That list includes Iced Earth, Nevermore, Symphony X and Zero Hour. Unfortunately for Iced Earth and Symphony X, they have new releases scheduled for 2007. To both those bands I now say, there’s no shame in finishing second.
Redemption's The Origins of Ruin if steeped in introspective lyrics, drenched in emotion, jam-packed with brilliant musicianship and overflowing with great songwriting. From the opening of “The Suffocating Silence”, to the beautiful title track, to heart-wrenching ending of “Fall on You”, this disc never let’s up in terms of superb quality.
Nick and Ray have developed a chemistry that has only grown stronger since the release of The Fullness Of Time. I can’t say if this is because Nick has a deeper understanding of how to write for Ray's vocals or because Ray has a greater sense of what Nick is trying to convey. If I had to guess, I would imagine the truth lies somewhere in the middle. In much the same way I always felt Barlow's powerful, dramatic delivery, lent credence to Schaffer's occasionally over the top lyrics, Ray's emotional delivery amplifies the intensity of Nick's contemplative lyrics.
In many ways, The Origins of Ruin picks up right where The Fullness Of Time left off. However, there are several noteworthy improvements. For starters, the guitar playing has improved. Obviously, Redemption never lacked in respect to its guitar play. However, on The Origins of Ruin, the lead play seems to have progressed to the next level, while the riffing consistently delivers a greater deal of crunch. Perhaps more important, the songwriting has continued to mature. I wouldn't say the differences between Origins and Fullness, are as stark as those between Fullness and the S/T release. However, it’s clear that Redemption’s sound is still evolving. If the S/T was black and white, and Fullness offered a wide range of colors, Origins offers all those same colors, but with additional depth and shading.
This isn’t the type of release that one queues up, listens to with half an ear, and is floored by its brilliance. However, it is the type of disc that continues to improve and build momentum with each listen. It's the type of disc where nuances continue to reveal themselves with each spin. And it's certainly the type of disc that will find itself atop many year end Top 10 lists.
Zod
Redemption's The Origins of Ruin if steeped in introspective lyrics, drenched in emotion, jam-packed with brilliant musicianship and overflowing with great songwriting. From the opening of “The Suffocating Silence”, to the beautiful title track, to heart-wrenching ending of “Fall on You”, this disc never let’s up in terms of superb quality.
Nick and Ray have developed a chemistry that has only grown stronger since the release of The Fullness Of Time. I can’t say if this is because Nick has a deeper understanding of how to write for Ray's vocals or because Ray has a greater sense of what Nick is trying to convey. If I had to guess, I would imagine the truth lies somewhere in the middle. In much the same way I always felt Barlow's powerful, dramatic delivery, lent credence to Schaffer's occasionally over the top lyrics, Ray's emotional delivery amplifies the intensity of Nick's contemplative lyrics.
In many ways, The Origins of Ruin picks up right where The Fullness Of Time left off. However, there are several noteworthy improvements. For starters, the guitar playing has improved. Obviously, Redemption never lacked in respect to its guitar play. However, on The Origins of Ruin, the lead play seems to have progressed to the next level, while the riffing consistently delivers a greater deal of crunch. Perhaps more important, the songwriting has continued to mature. I wouldn't say the differences between Origins and Fullness, are as stark as those between Fullness and the S/T release. However, it’s clear that Redemption’s sound is still evolving. If the S/T was black and white, and Fullness offered a wide range of colors, Origins offers all those same colors, but with additional depth and shading.
This isn’t the type of release that one queues up, listens to with half an ear, and is floored by its brilliance. However, it is the type of disc that continues to improve and build momentum with each listen. It's the type of disc where nuances continue to reveal themselves with each spin. And it's certainly the type of disc that will find itself atop many year end Top 10 lists.
Zod
but who knows still a lot to go of this year 
